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Sunday, August 21, 2016

GAME RECAP: TIGER-CATS 53 ROUGHRIDERS 7

HAMILTON - Zach Collaros set a new career-high for touchdown passes in a single game on Saturday, but it was news to him.

Collaros threw for five touchdowns as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hammered the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders 53-7.

"Yeah, is it?'' said Collaros when told post-game about his performance. "Cool.''

The 27-year-old QB was making his return to Tim Hortons Field after almost a year off recovering from a knee injury. It was just the tonic the Ticats needed after playing the last four games on the road.

They snapped a two-game losing streak by steamrolling the Roughriders in front of 24,166 fans. Hamilton improves to 4-4 and Saskatchewan falls to 1-7. Hamilton hadn't played at home since July 7.

"Any time you win, it's fun no matter how you get it done,'' Collaros said after completing 23-of-30 pass attempts for 381 yards, the five TDs and zero interceptions.

"I thought we had a pretty good week of practice and we executed well in the three facets of the game. That's what it takes to win.''

Hamilton kicker Brett Maher was three for three on field-goal attempts, hitting from 22, 12 and 16 yards. Saskatchewan kicker Tyler Crapigna hit both attempts, from 43 and 24 yards.

Collaros had returned to action last week on the road against the B.C. Lions, but that ended in a dramatic 45-38 loss after the Ticats had fought back from a 20-point deficit to tie it at 38 late.

Collaros said he was starting to see the field a little more clearly in his second game back.

"I saw things, I guess, better tonight and guys made plays. I had all the time in the world up front.''

In all, there were six passing TDs (backup Jeremiah Masoli recorded one) to five different receivers.

It didn't start perfectly. Collaros missed his targets in the end zone on the first drive and they had to settle for a field goal. And the game's first TD was a bit of a fluke. The ball sailed through the arms of intended target Tasker, was tipped by Saskatchewan defender Kacy Rodgers, and landed in the arms of Fantuz who ran it in for a 39-yard score.

"I've never had anything like that,'' Collaros said. "I'm just living right, man, I guess.''

Not surprisingly, coach Kent Austin was happy with how things went on both sides of the ball.

"I'm just really proud of the guys, after a tough game last time (versus B.C.) and to come back and respond,'' he said. ``They got back to work.

"The defence did a really good job of getting us the ball, and we did a really good job offensively of putting the ball in the end zone.''

Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant entered the game without having thrown an interception in 321 pass attempts, a league record. He threw four in this game, ending the streak at 323. He was replaced in the fourth by Mitchell Gale, who fumbled and threw an interception.

And for the record, Hamilton defensive end John Chick (a former long-time Roughrider) sacked his good friend twice.

Hamilton took a 27-4 lead into halftime. That was the Ticats' first halftime lead since July 15 against Montreal when they led 5-4.

Roughrider head coach Chris Jones was gracious in defeat.

"You have to give them a lot of credit,'' he said. "That's a fine football team over there in all three phases of the game.''

And he kept things positive about his struggling squad.

"Those young men have heart and we won't quit,'' he said.

"We will look at the film. Work on things. They did some good things. When we look at the film, we will spot (them).''

Hamilton is on the road next week in Calgary while Saskatchewan is in Edmonton.

(Canadian Press)

CHRIS JONES POSTGAME NOTES/COMMENTS

- It was tough. First half we killed ourselves with penalties. 11 I think. We had some opportunitiies defensively but didn't come up with the plays. If we did, it would've been a different half. In the second half we turned it over. Against a good team, that's not going to give you a good record.

- The CFL's put this new rule (PI) in. This is what they wanted. Sometimes they go your way. Right now it seems nothing's going our way. We have to keep grinding. I know the hearts in the room and how much it means to them. They know how much it means to the people of our province. Eventually it'll fall in place. We got a lotta young kids.

- The kids Ford, and Holley played well. #30 ran tough and Holley, except for a drop, was solid. We have to go back to the drawing board and see what we can learn going into next week.

- Zach did a real nice job moving around in the pocket. We failed to run some of our things accurately and acutely. If we had, we could've got him on the ground. We have to go back and teach and coach it better, and maybe be able to execute it better. On the flipside, with only 7 points, we have to look at what we can do better offensively.

- Next week with Edmonton, they're very solid and they're coming off a very big win today. We have our work cut out for us. We just have to go back to the grindstone.

I turned the game off at 20-0 for Hamilton, so hopefully the Riders came back and will make me eating these words.

I highly doubt it though.

Does Chris Jones have brain damage or amnesia? He continues to think that if he rushes two defenders less than what the offence has to block he will get pressure on the QB. He also continues to think that these stupid plays with our backup QB will actually work, but they never do.

The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over, but expecting a different result.

Does he think guys with a lot of character is all he needs to win football games? This bunch of undisciplined, talentless losers has got to be one of the worst rosters in CFL history.

Where is this great scouting department the Riders are supposed to have? The player personnel department has failed miserably, wasted unknown amounts of money and the result is that the Riders are now trading to get other teams cast off garbage.

Can anyone blame Brian Bulcke for not wanting to join this dumpster fire?

Will this situation somehow miraculously improve in 2017 when the new stadium opens? Not likely. 6-12 in 2017 will be a miracle.

Craig Reynolds, Chris Jones and John Murphy have all failed to do their jobs.

Oh, and to top it all off, they're a bunch of cheaters, but they can't even do that right.

Another disgrace what a terrible team and we have to start questioning the coaching and GM. OH and the money being spent! Reynolds $460,000.00 , Murphy $275,000.00 , Jones $295,000 not sure if these numbers are accurate . Please correct me if wrong. Our defence was better last year not by much but better.Our offence is really bad and same thing last year a little better not by much. I predict the old stadium will be empty as will be the new remember the 80's our economy is not good and people want value for their dollar.

Rod Pedersen.... You should let anybody and everybody do their Venting on this one. This was the DISGRACE of all by the Riders tonight. Durant stunk the joint out with 4 interceptions and the rest of the team looked like they wanted it to end after Hamilton got their 1st TD. How about Tough Guy Jones? Why didn't he go after Austin at the end of the game for running up the score . He did it to Dickenson so why not Austin? As far as I am concerned I think Jones should fire himself and get the hell out of town. In all the years that I have been a Rider fan I have never ever seen such a disgraceful organization and team that this one has turned out to be.

I can hardly wait until Monday to find out who other than the Rider players or management is to blame for this disgrace. My money is focusing on a late hit on the sideline after they were losing by 30 already.

This team is getting worse by the week... with that being said Jones would look a lot smarter if he would come out publicy and admit he's treating this as an 18 game training camp with all the different rosters he uses every week.

So glad that I have season tickets and drive 750 km round-trip to watch the Chris Jones Garbage Fire. All of my tickets can be had for free. In fact, it is a better deal if I pay someone to take them as I will save on gas and food and beer. PLUS I won't be embarrassed, angered, frustrated and bored by the crappy excuse that the current regime is fielding.

I'm a fan of the club (don't give me grief please for choosing to not get on board) and I think that, despite his latest performance, Durant is a great leader, but I was pleased to hear that John Chick sacked him twice today. Jones is an idiot for not keeping him. Some defensive guru.

Do you realize that if the team wins the next four games, each with a score of 35-0, that they will STILL have allowed more than they scored, will be two games under .500, and not in a playoff spot.

Hey Rod.... Quit playing the Hero Role "I'll Buy Them All" ! . For just once tell us all the real truth of what you think is going on here and what should be done. Or are you afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

I am a staunch rider fan. Tonight , this game was a real disappointment. Our defense lacks intensity, smartness and some have no discipline at all. The penalties that we took in the first part of the game were purely ridiculous. Our coach who is supposed to be the guru of defense is really lacking. How on earth are we continuing to play with a three man defensive line. The opposition really loves to play us. I am really concerned about the direction we are going. We decimated our team from last year by getting rid of our good players and have brought replacements who cannot catch a ball, can not carry the ball and cannot even run their routes properly. I can only hope that we show some improvement, otherwise this is going to be the worst season in our rider history.

I've been following the Riders since the Bill Clarke, Ron Atchison days and I've never seen such a whipping.

I've always liked DD and often defended him in the coffee shop. But I'm not looking forward to coffee tomorrow, that was the worst game I've ever seen him play. However, I do think that Darian can bounce back from that embarrassing game.

But, I don't think our defense can bounce back from anything. On at least 60% of their completions there wasn't a Rider within 8 yards of the receiver. That's all on the so-called 'Defensive Genius' Chris Jones.

Murphy is supposed to be a big time recruiter, well there's only about 4 Roughriders that could make any other CFL team. Recruitment, what recruitment? I guess Murphy was efficient wherever Hufnagel told him to go and which guy to sign.

Boy I miss the Tillman, Austin, Miller era, when football was fun because it sure isn't now.

Doubles i would ask for a trade if management cant put a decent team with at least half effort behind you.Defense stunk the place out. Let me guess, management thinks... we were in the game all night, just 2 or 3 plays and we could have won....haha, ya right. When does lacrosse start

That was a terrible game. I hope that they can come up with something. Anything. To get these players executing. The coaches proved the last two years in Edmonton that they can coach well. But to date they just are not delivering. It shows especially on defence. Jones isn't calling the blitzes he normally would. Mostly because he doesn't trust his secondary to cover receivers yet.

This is a bad football team. Period. I don't see one thing to get excited about or be optimistic about on this team this year or even next. Durant and the O are absolutely abysmal and the D is one of the worst Ive seen in recent memory. This is very concerning. 6&30 since mid 2014 and we hear the same tired excuses EVERY game. Absolutely brutal. I can't even watch this crap. And the CFL rule changes and ridiculous challenges have made our game an embarrassing joke.

Leave already your an annoying whiner if you been watching this team for as long as you say you have you would remember lot worse teams. This team has been stripped down. Don't hurt yourself falling off the wagon

Feel for DD. He needs to get rid of the ball fast or get killed back there. Combine that with being way down and needing to take risks. Result ... looks bad. Am used to first 3/4 games in the CFL season are still like ex season but looks like the Rider ex season could last a whole lot longer. By anon comments many won't have the patience.

Good thing out of this game is I have figured out how to win the fantasy football. Take players from the team that the Roughriders are playing against. Not only is this team in trouble but so is this league.

Going to one broadcaster was the biggest mistake they made and it is showing in the advertising for the games. You never hear about when the games are on from the other networks. This league does nothing to promote or advertise the games. If you think advertising the games on TSN will bring more people to watch then good luck.

In Winnipeg you would never know a game was happening cause there are no billboards, advertising etc. Unless you look at the newspaper or listen to the radio rights holder forget it. The league does not use social media, is not engaging the public.

The game is terrible with all the challenges and bush league contact on a receiver on a guy 5 miles away for a first down. The rule change has backfired, was an experiment, but they need to admit when something is bad. In the Rider game a PI is called by the ref facing a receiver at the sidelines, yet the ref right behind the players didn't throw the flag for the tug on the back. It was called right but how could the ref right there miss it?

Attendance is terrible in BC, Toronto and Montreal. I have been a big time supporter of this team and league but its really hard to be excited about a lot. Some of the games have been fantastic but there is sooooo much bad happening.

Just venting cause I have watched this league drop the ball time and time and time again. Ballparks should be packed. The Riders have gone from GC Champs to losing half the team the next year to losing everything within a couple of years. How do teams build dynasty's or at least maintain competitive teams, not the way we are. It is going to take years and a lot more off season free agent camps to try and find someone, anyone who can play. I thought we built the super management team in the off season, SO WHERE IS THE RESULTS?

If anyone thinks a player like Knox Jr is gonna stay after being treated the way he has, wait if anyone thinks a lot of players are going to want to stick well........

What a horrible showing - wow. Good thing the Jays game was on, at least there I saw what winning was.

When will us fans start to accept this? It not like we've have winning seasons all the time. How many Grey Cups do we have ? and how long has the league been in existence. A horrible percentage. A joke actually.

On the bright side winning will be coming back to Regina soon with the Regina Pats starting up in a few weeks. Those young boys deserve some fan support.

Excruciatingly bad performance aside, I was talking to my cousin in Calgary who told me that he and his friends will not be supporting cheaters. They will still be fans but they will not be purchasing any more Rider gear until The Riders can rebuild their integrity.I agree. Bad play is one thing but cheating is on a different level. That is what disappoints me the most.

Seriously considering packing it in, not just for this season, but for good! Don't think I can Stomach watching any more of this Dumpster Fire! Have a ticket for the final game at Old Mosaic, and will go for the final time and won't return. Have more important thing to worry about in my life than a second rate team like the Riders.

Until this year, I had been a season ticket holder since 1990. After last season, I couldn't bring myself to spend a chunk of my hard earned salary anymore on games that weren't even entertaining to watch. Knowing that the price of season tickets was going to increase even more in the new stadium also factored into my decision. There have been good years, but statistically, those years are few and far between. I believe in value for money, and the Riders can't give me this consistently. You can't say I didn't try because I stuck it out for 26 years, but after watching the game last night and most of the games leading up to it, I'm glad I made the decision I did.

No one fears playing the Riders. We have gone about as far backwards as we can go. I get that this is year 1 of a longer term plan. Still we need to see improvement and it just isn't happening. We will see how this all ends but IF the season continues this way then Jones needs to make changes in his staff in the off season or someone needs to change Jones. As expensive as that would be. Dean

The Riders could improve their offensive line if they could go and sign a couple Canadian players of the caliber of Brendan Labatte and Chris Best. We need to find someone as steady as Xavier Fulton. On the D-line, signing someone with experience like Eric Norwood would help.

This is what I said all along…Don Matthews tried what Jones is right now in Sask and he totally failed so what makes you think Jones can do it. Matthews was one of the greatest coaches in Cfl and all Jones had for experience before taking all this on is defensive coach for Toronto and Calgary…then only 2 seasons as head coach.

In 2013 when the Riders won it all the ecstatic fans could not get enough of their team, waking up every morning knowing this team we love so much had done it! Won the whole darn thing and it took months for us to come down to earth and think about the future. But no problem because we were going to repeat in 2014 because we were just that good! It didn't happen but ok it'll take a few building years to create that phenomenal team of coaches and staff that can put it all together and win it all. Turns out that is not as easy as it seems, as coaches and general managers have changed and many many players have come and gone. Take out our quarterback for a couple years and what did you expect? We have not been a good team for three years now and it is still going to take at least another year to be competitive again. There will be no championship this year for us but hopefully we will find a way to win a few games. As horrible as last nights game was I found myself thinking about last week against Calgary when we played pretty well. What was the difference this week? So many changes all the time trying to find the right people. The players probably don't even know each other's names yet. We can look at John Chick, Weston Dressler, Ryan Smith, Chris Getzlaf and others who have left our team and fool ourselves into believing if we still had them we would be a good team but we probably would still be struggling. It has happened to other teams and we have to accept that and be patient. Unfortunately for some of the older players they may not be here when we win it all again, but for them I am thankful for 2013 when they won the Grey Cup in our own stadium, it was an awesome year!

Like any other business,people expect to get value for their dollar. With the Riders of course,they are not getting that. I remember well when Barrett and Shivers came here, It was also a rebuild but almost each game had good value with Henry, Curtis Marsh etc providing real hope ,but still losing nonetheless(I think they a total of 5 wins)but this year is void of any bright light at the end of the tunnel. If this debacle continues till year end, whats to say the Riders have to have yet another 18 game pre-season to open up the new stadium as we seem to be married to Jones and after 8 games..ZERO PROMISE IMO.It is like a bad mechanic trying everything to fix your car and still it is not fixed,while you still pay for his costly experimentation. I am still of the opinion that Jones is still only a DC at best and that is his limit. He is in way over his head. Any business person will agree at this point. Polkabill from the Peg

Not much has changed since training camp and the egomaniacal coach wanted to puke out from what he saw in the preseason. His job is to win. That's it. Whatever he's installed to this point is not working. I hope he can see that and make changes. If he's unwilling or unable (see useless 3 man rush the past 7 games) then it's time for him to leave. I'll pay for the plane ticket.

Coach Jones: we've got a great group of kids in that locker room. Translation: kids are great at playing xbox and PS4 but we need some men that can play footballCoach Joned: we have to forget about this game and worry about next weekTranslation: hopefully next week's ass kicking won't be as bad. Losing by 20 will feel better that losing by 46 points Coach jones: chick is a future hall of famer and a great player Translation: I though I could dump his sorry ass and nothing would come of him and he would fade into the sunset. He took far less money in Hamilton but I told everybody he wouldn't take less money here. Most people believed mebut now that I have been caught cheating in every manner possible. I think I may have changed the fans outlook of my honesty. Coach jones: we are not use to losing but we are not going to just give up. Translation: with the money Reynolds is paying me. I wouldn't quit if we lost every game by 50 points. I'm making so much moneyI can retire in 3 yearsOver all truth.... The Riders are moving into a new stadium next year. Presently they have the worst team in modern day history. Even the 2 win Ron Lancaster coaching days never had games were they were beat by 46 points. The Riders leave old Mosaic with their heads hung low and their eyes covered in shame. While they enter their new stadium with state of the art equipment and training rooms for a team that dosent have near enough talent to be considered a CFL team. Hell the UofR or UofS could beat this sorry team. Darian Durant on his last year of his contract. If Bo Levi Mitchel is truly making $320K then if SK resigns Durant it should be around $200K as Darian hasn't proved anything other than he knows the rules. Hell even Brett Smith scored more points on average last year than Darian Durant has this year. What a SAD SAC group that calls themself a team. EMBARRASSING.

I don't think endless tinkering with the roster can help build a team. The Players need to get to know they have each others back. They don't trust each other now. In my opinion we need a 4 - 5 man pass rush not 3. This gives the opposition QB so much time even a mediocre receiver can get open. BLITZ the hell out of them and watch for different results.Don't give up on the Riders or the coaches. This game was a big set back. Not sure why but they don't seem to play well in the East(yet).Go Riders

No body wrote anything about Mitchell signing in SK. The comment stated that Mithchell is getting $320K a year. So with that being said. Durant isn't worth anymore than 200K if he resigns in SK next year!!!Read the comment correctly!Who in their right mind would think Mitchel would sign anywhere but where he is.

Reynolds can't force Jones to quit. That's not how contracts work. We are stuck with Jones for at least 3 years if the contract is 5 years as I've heard. If he hasn't got this figured out by then so long.

I am disapointed with their performance at this stage of the season. The defence last year gave up fewer points after as many games and we thought they were a tire fire at that point. In fact, we thougt they were so bad it got Chamblin fired! With the supposed best defensive coach in the CFL and the best player recruitment man they could find, how is it possible that they look like a WORSE team after 8 games WITH Durant than they looked WITHOUT him last year? What am i missing here? Say what you want about rebuilding, but something isn't adding up.

Thats true. Its why you see so much 3 man pressure because he doesnt trust his secondary. However last half of the season in Edm he played a lot of 3 and 4 man rush as well but he had the talent up front to make it work. This time he doesnt.

Except that Greg Marshall wasnt at the beginning of a 5 year contract that made him the highest paid coach in the league. He also didnt hire himself and wasnt also the GM. Riders have painted themselves into a corner and will live or die with CJ for at least a couple of seasons.

Shameful the comments from some so-called die-hard Rider fans. I'm as frustrated as anyone at how this season has unfolded. However, I've been through a lot of heartache and losing seasons over the years. I've witnessed back to back 2-14 seasons in the 70's when so-called fans chased a legend out of town as the head coach. I've witnessed 11 years of non play-off football. But I've never wavered in my support of my team. Like I've told my kids so many times in the past, living through the tough times make the good times even sweeter. So c'mon Rider fans, let's get behind this team and our coaches and management. After-all, the rest of the country calls us the Greatest Fans in the CFL. Let's ensure we earn that label.

Go from 2 man rush on one play , then suprise blitz on next play...???? Really CJ?? Everyone knows you were going to blitz after only sending 2...collaros was all over that and picking apart secondary because of 2-3 man rush, that kind of coaching makes me want to throw up!!

Hey Cressman you must be related to Pedersen, we as Fans are tired of hearing comments like yours and quit telling your kids lies . This organization is so out of whack that Sweet Talk like yours is not the answer to the problem.

Calling out Cappicotti...maybe you seen how a real defensive end plays( john chick), pretty sure he is 15 years older than you. Did you take any notes. Chick...now thats a real football player, refresh my memory why we cut him loose again Cj?

The dissapointment lies within the fact that there were high expectations here, which havent materialized so far.I would say up util this time last yea the Riders played better than the 2016 edition. We have a defacto expansion team on our hands with only say 3 guys back on offense and one guy back on defense, so what can you expect. Maybe Durant should ride off to the sunset or something. I like Mitch Gale and maybe give him a chance. Kendial Lawrence has been a real dissappointment to date as well.I think we gotta be patient here as it takes a lot of work to come back from a 3-15 team to contention.I would hope with some consistency and work that we;ll see aa better second half. you gotta have faith in Jones and crew.

How can people pin this on the coach? He had a game plan together the players could not execute. Has anyone listened to the amount of injured players we have before game time, it is as long as the guys we have playing.

This is on the players not the coaches. Jones can only rush 3 because the guys in the secondary for some reason can't cover.

To all the poster giving up tickets thank you see you later it will give some real fans in good times and bad to see the team play, you would be the ones that have instant fixes and could throw the ball and block at the same time.

Before you get to worked up I have had season tickets for the last 10 years, give the boys a chance. I hated the game just as much as the next guy. We are a passionate group of fans and expect wins all the time but shit happens we will get through it.

Sorry to burst your bubble my friend. The rest of the Country doesn't call us the greatest fans at all. The media states we support our team on the road better than anyone else. The fans from other teams call Rider fans all kinds of names because of past behaviour from our fans in competing parks. Rider fans are looked upon as a bunch of Red Neck 1 team wonders. Before the Riders won the Grey Cup in 1989 the Rider fans were the livable losers. I still want the Riders to do well and I will always cheer for them. But how can you stand behind and support what is going on right now. They might as well have kept Chamblin and Taman as the Riders would have saved a bunch of money and truly they would not be anywhere near as bad as they are now. Reynolds fired Chamblin because he stated that he no longer felt that Chamblin could pull them out of the tail spin they were in. Well guess what. If the Riders lose 2 more they are in the exact same boat and I don't see SK beating anybody right now. Not even Winnipeg.

Seriously you cowards who are selling your tickets I want full transfer of ownership of the seats and I'll pay for em. Don't be all talk, post your emails and I'll buy em along with many others. Bob where'd u go? There's more of you...please respond thanks!

Mr. CressmanYour points are bang on, unfortunately as most Canadian sports fans we only support winning teams. You ive with the team through the bad times and enjoy the good times. It's entertainment. The rats sre leaving the ship, although I don't see any contact info for those giving up and selling there tickets lmao these are the real losers

Since there is a bit of name-calling (albeit primarily by those who have a poor grasp of the English language) going on I will step up and say that I AM getting rid of my tickets but to friends who want to go. I'm not willing to put my personal contact info on here so the Redneck horde can badger me about my legitimate frustration with the club.

Further, the CFL has nine teams. Six make the post-season. Four teams host a revenue-generating playoff game. Retool don't rebuild. If you miss the playoffs three years in a row (never mind four or five) then there are some serious issues.